HP EliteBook 840 G5 vs G6 vs G8: Which Should You Buy?

The HP EliteBook 840 G5, G6 and G8 look almost identical in a shop window, but they are not the same laptop. The G5 and G6 are close cousins; the G8 is a full generation newer. This comparison uses HP's own QuickSpecs, so you know exactly what the extra money buys.

The short answer

• Buy the G5 if your budget is fixed around KES 30,000 and you mainly use Office, a browser and Zoom.
• Buy the G6 when it costs the same as, or only slightly more than, a G5. It is the same laptop with a slightly newer processor.
• Buy the G8 if you want the laptop to last longest, need better graphics for light photo or video work, or want Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt 4. It is the best of the three by a clear margin.

All three are supported by Windows 11 (with 8th-gen or newer chips), have a 14-inch full HD screen option and take two sticks of RAM.

Side-by-side specifications

From HP's QuickSpecs for each model. Exact configuration varies by unit; check the listing.

G5 vs G6: almost the same laptop

The G5 and G6 share the same body, ports, battery and weight. The difference is the processor family. The G6's Whiskey Lake chips boost higher than the G5's Kaby Lake Refresh chips (the i5-8265U reaches 3.9GHz against 3.4GHz for the i5-8250U, according to HP), which you notice in short bursts like opening apps, not in sustained work. HP also offered Wi-Fi 6 on some G6 units.

One trap with the G5: HP sold some 840 G5s with 7th-gen dual-core i5-7200U and i5-7300U processors. These are slower and not supported by Windows 11. Check the processor in Settings, System, About before you pay. A genuine 8th-gen G5 will show i5-8250U or i5-8350U.

Base screens differ slightly. HP lists the standard G5 panel at 220 nits and the standard G6 panel at 250 nits; both were also sold with brighter 400-nit options, which are much easier to use near a window or outdoors.

In our stock:

• HP EliteBook 840 G5, Core i5 8th Gen, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 14": KES 25,990
• HP EliteBook 840 G6, Core i5 8th Gen, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 14" (Non-touch): KES 25,990
• : , the one to get if you multitask
• HP EliteBook 840 G6, Core i5 8th Gen, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 14" (Touchscreen): KES 30,990, if you want a touchscreen
• HP EliteBook 840 G5, Core i7 8th Gen, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 14": KES 38,990, an i7 G5 with 16GB and 512GB

Why the G8 is a real step up

The G8 skips two years of development (the G7 in between used 10th-gen chips). Three changes matter in daily use:

• Graphics. The 11th-gen chips include Intel Iris Xe graphics, a large step up from UHD 620 for photo editing, light video work and external monitors. Iris Xe needs memory in both slots (dual channel); with a single stick it runs as slower UHD graphics. Ask whether a G8 has 2 x 4GB or 1 x 8GB.
• Wi-Fi 6 as standard. Faster and more reliable on busy office and campus networks with modern routers.
• Two Thunderbolt 4 ports and HDMI 2.0b, so one cable can drive a dock and a 4K monitor at 60Hz.

The G8 is also about 130 grams lighter. The one thing it gives up is the built-in Ethernet port, so if you use wired internet at the office or in a hostel, budget for a USB-C to Ethernet adapter.

In our stock:

• HP EliteBook 840 G8, Core i5 11th Gen, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 14": KES 33,490
• : , the best-balanced 840 we sell
• HP EliteBook 840 G8, Core i7 11th Gen, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 14": KES 39,990

Typical prices in Kenya

Typical market prices from Nairobi shops and listings in 2026, for refurbished units with a Core i5, not our prices:

• 840 G5, 8GB / 256GB: about KES 27,000 to 35,000
• 840 G6, 8GB / 256GB: about KES 30,000 to 40,000
• 840 G8, 8 to 16GB / 256GB: about KES 37,000 to 46,000

An i7 adds a few thousand shillings and rarely makes a noticeable difference for office work. Spend extra on 16GB RAM first, then a larger SSD, and only then on i7. If your budget reaches the KES 70,000s, the newer HP EliteBook 840 G9, Core i7 12th Gen, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 14" (KES 64,490) is worth a look.

Today's prices for every configuration we stock: EliteBook 840 G5, 840 G6 and 840 G8.

What to check on any 840 before paying

• Processor generation in Settings, System, About (watch for 7th-gen "G5"s).
• Battery health: run powercfg /batteryreport, or HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (press F2 at start-up), and compare Full Charge Capacity with Design Capacity.
• BIOS (press F10 at start-up): no supervisor password prompt, and the Absolute Persistence Module should not be shown as activated by a previous owner.
• The charger: an HP 65W 4.5mm "blue tip" or 65W USB-C adapter. The 45W adapter works but charges slowly under load.

Then test the screen, every key, every port, the webcam and Wi-Fi before you pay.

Buying an EliteBook from Shatach

Every refurbished EliteBook comes with a 6-month Shatach warranty. Pay by M-Pesa, Airtel Money, card, or on delivery within Nairobi. Order by 2pm for same-day delivery in Nairobi and its surroundings, or next-day collection from a G4S or Fargo Courier branch elsewhere. Compare every model on our business laptops page.

Frequently asked questions